A sea of sunflowers and the memory of Chelsea King washed over Balboa Park on Saturday as thousands came out to finish what the teenager started before she was slain five years ago.

Brent and Kelly King cheered on 7,500 runners, walkers and volunteers who turned out to honor their daughter at the fifth annual Finish Chelseas’s Run, taking time to high-five, hug and pose for selfies with anyone who asked.

“I can’t believe it’s been five years. Through it all, this has become one of my favorite days of the year because we see how much good the community is capable of,” said Kelly King. “It’s exactly what Chelsea and Amber would have wanted.”

Chelsea was a 17-year-old Poway High School student when she disappeared Feb. 25, 2010, after setting out for a run through a Rancho Bernardo park. Registered sex offender John Gardner was convicted of murdering her and 14-year-old Amber Dubois, who had disappeared a year earlier while walking to school in Escondido.

Organizers of the first run held in Chelsea’s memory hoped to attract 100 runners to finish that jog in Rancho Bernardo. The turnout was overwhelming. Some 3,500 showed up, many of whom had helped search for Chelsea during the five days she was missing before her body was found in a shallow grave off Lake Hodges.

Finish Chelsea's Run 2015

The event has been held in Balboa Park ever since, each year growing in size and raising more money for Chelsea’s Light Foundation, which awards college scholarships and advocates for laws to get sexual predators off the streets. Last year, Girl Scouts San Diego partnered with the event, which also raises money for the organization that was an important part of Chelsea’s childhood.

“It is a natural partnership,” said Mary Doyle of Girl Scouts. “We share some of the same values — empowering girls and making the community safer for kids.”

The run and festival filled the lawns of Balboa Park along the Sixth Avenue race route that was marked by some of the inspirational quotes Chelsea entered into her journals. Sunflowers — Chelsea’s favorite flower — could be seen in the hands and hair of runners of all ages.

Abby Vandling completed her third Chelsea’s Run, saying she has always admired Chelsea. She was 6 years old when Chelsea was killed.

“I remember just knowing who she was,” said Abby, 11, of 4S Ranch. “She liked to run and I like to run. I just want to support her and her family.”

District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, Mayor Kevin Faulconer and San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten were among the dignitaries who turned out for the event. Marten, who designed the rubric used to judge Sunflower Scholarship essays five years ago, also ran in the 5K.

The Kings now live in Illinois, where they continue to advocate to expand Chelsea’s Law, which was approved in California within seven months of their daughter’s death. The law strengthened criminal sentencing for violent sexual offenders who commit forcible sex crimes against children; mandates lifetime parole and GPS monitoring; and prohibits sex offenders released from prison from visiting places where children congregate.